He was deeply in love with Virginia Conway, but there was no hope of obtaining her consent to a marriage unless he could raise money enough to gratify her desires.
How should he do it?
He was returning to his boarding-house at a late hour one night, when, in an unfrequented street, two figures advanced upon him from the darkness, and, while one seized him by the throat, the other rifled his pockets.
Talbot was not a coward, and having only a few dollars in his pocket-book, while his watch, luckily, was under repair at Tiffany's, he submitted quietly to the examination.
[Pg 142]
The pocket-book was opened and its contents eagerly scanned.
"Only five dollars, Mike!" muttered one of the ruffians.
"Why don't you carry money, like a gentleman?" demanded the man called Mike. "Ain't you ashamed to carry such a lean wallet as that there?"
"Really, gentlemen, if I had expected to meet you, I would have provided myself better," said Talbot, not without a gleam of humor.
"He's chaffing us Bill," said Mike.
"My watch is at Tiffany's."
"That's too thin."
"It's the truth. You ought to have waited till next week, when I'd have had it for you."
"You're a cool customer."
"Why not?"
"We might hurt you."
"You have already. Don't squeeze my throat so next time."
"Only a pair of sleeve buttons."
"Gold?"
[Pg 143]
"Yes; but they are small, and not worth much."
"You've took us in reg'lar! A gent like you ought to have diamond studs, or a pin, or something of value."
"I know it, and I'm sorry I haven't, for your sakes."
"Don't be afraid. I look upon you as gentlemen, and treat you accordingly. In fact, I'm glad I've met with you."
"Why?" asked Mike, suspiciously.
"I may be able to put something in your way."
"Are you on the square?" asked Bill, rather surprised.
"Yes."
"What is it?"
"I can't tell you in the street. Is there any quiet place, where we shall not be disturbed or overheard?"
The men looked at each other in doubt.
"This may be a plant," said Mike, suspiciously.
"On my honor, it isn't."
"If it is," growled Bill, "you'd better make your will."
"I know the risk, and am not afraid. In short, I have a job for you."
[Pg 144]
The men consulted, and finally were led to put confidence in Talbot.
"Is there money in it?" asked Mike.
"Two hundred dollars apiece."
"We'll hear what you have to say. Bill, let's go to your room."
"Is it far away?" asked Talbot.
"No."
"Lead on, then."
The three made their way to a dilapidated building on Houston street, and ascended10 to the fourth floor.
Bill kicked open the door of a room with his foot and strode in.
A thin, wretched-looking woman sat in a wooden chair, holding a young child.
"Is it you, Bill?" she asked.
"Yes, it's me!" growled her husband. "Just clear out into the other room. Me and these gentlemen have business together."
She meekly11 obeyed the command of her lord, glancing curiously12 at Talbot as she went out. Mike she knew only too well, as one of her husband's evil companions.
Suspecting nothing, the conspirators15 spoke16 in louder[Pg 145] tones than they were aware of, so that she obtained a pretty clear idea of what was being planned.
"Now go ahead," said Bill, throwing himself on the chair his wife had vacated. "What's your game?"
"Can you open a safe?" asked Talbot.
"Perhaps I can manage that."
"Where is it?"
Talbot gave the name of his employer and the number of his store.
"What have you got to do with it?"
"I'm the book-keeper."
"You are? What are you going to make out of it?"
"Leave that to me. I'll guarantee that you'll find four hundred dollars there to pay you for your trouble."
"That isn't enough. The risk is too great."
"It is only one night's work."
"If we're caught, it'll be Sing Sing for seven years."
"That's true. How much do you require, gentlemen?"
The men consulted.
"We might do it for five hundred apiece," said Bill.
[Pg 146]
There was a little discussion, but finally this was acceded18 to. Various details were discussed, and the men separated.
"I'm goin' your way," said Mike. "I'll show you the way out."
"All right, thank you, but we'd better separate at the street door."
"Why? Are you too fine a gentleman to be seen with the likes of me?" demanded Mike, feeling insulted.
"Not at all, my friend; but if we were seen together by any of the police, who know me as book-keeper, it would excite suspicion later."
"You're right. Your head's level. You're sure you're on the square?"
"Yes, my friend. I shouldn't dare to tamper19 with men like you and Bill. You might find a way to get even with me."
"That's so, stranger. I guess we can trust you."
"You may be sure of that."
"More crime!" said the miserable20 wife to herself, as she heard through the keyhole the details of the plan. "Bill is getting worse and worse every day. Where will it all end?"
"Here, Nancy, get me something to eat," said Bill, when his visitors had departed.
"Yes, Bill, I will get you all there is."
[Pg 147]
The wife brought out from a small closet a slice of bread and a segment of cheese.
"Pah!" said the burly ruffian, turning up his nose. "What are you giving us?"
"It's all I've got, Bill."
"Where's the meat, I say?"
"There is none."
"God help us, Bill! We have had no meat for a week."
"That's a lie! I can't eat such trash as that. Do you mean to starve me?"
"I can't make food, Bill. If you will give money, I will provide better. I can't do anything without money."
"Whining23, are you?" said the brute24, furiously. "I'll teach you to complain of me. Take that, and that!" and he struck the woman two brutal25 blows with his fist. One, glancing, struck the child, who began to cry. This further irritated Bill, who, seizing his wife by the shoulders, thrust her out on the landing.
"There, stay there with the cursed brat!" he growled. "I mean to have one quiet night."
The wretched wife crept down stairs, and out into the street, scarcely knowing what she did. She was[Pg 148] not wholly destitute26 of spirit, and though she might have forgiven personal injury, felt incensed27 by the treatment of her innocent child.
"My poor baby!" she said, pitifully, "must you suffer because your father is a brute? May Heaven avenge28 our wrongs! Sooner or later it will."
She sat down on some steps near by; the air was chilly29, and she shivered with the cold, but she tried to shelter her babe as well as she could. She attracted the attention of a boy who was walking slowly by.
It was Dan, who had at a distance witnessed Talbot's encounter with the burglars, and his subsequent friendly companionship with them, and was trying to ascertain30 the character of the place which he visited.
"What's the matter with you?" asked Dan, in a tone of sympathy.
What's the matter with you
"What's the matter with you?" asked Dan, in a tone of sympathy.
"My husband has thrust me out of doors with my poor baby."
"I have no money."
"I can let you have enough for that. There's a cheap hotel near by. I'll take you to it, and pay for your lodging, and pay for it in advance."
"Heaven bless you! You are indeed a friend."
[Pg 149]
"Take my arm."
"She may know something about Talbot's visit. I'll question her," thought Dan.
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1
brokers
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| n.（股票、外币等）经纪人( broker的名词复数 )；中间人；代理商；（订合同的）中人v.做掮客（或中人等）( broker的第三人称单数 )；作为权力经纪人进行谈判；以中间人等身份安排… | |
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2
margin
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| n.页边空白；差额；余地，余裕；边，边缘 | |
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3
decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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4
exclamation
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| n.感叹号，惊呼，惊叹词 | |
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5
mingled
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| 混合，混入( mingle的过去式和过去分词 )； 混进，与…交往[联系] | |
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6
growl
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| v.（狗等）嗥叫，（炮等）轰鸣；n.嗥叫，轰鸣 | |
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7
growled
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| v.（动物）发狺狺声， （雷）作隆隆声( growl的过去式和过去分词 )；低声咆哮着说 | |
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8
jewelry
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| n.（jewllery）（总称）珠宝 | |
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9
ominous
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| adj.不祥的，不吉的，预兆的，预示的 | |
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10
ascended
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| v.上升，攀登( ascend的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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11
meekly
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| adv.温顺地，逆来顺受地 | |
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12
curiously
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| adv.有求知欲地；好问地；奇特地 | |
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13
bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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14
attentively
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| adv.聚精会神地；周到地；谛；凝神 | |
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15
conspirators
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| n.共谋者，阴谋家( conspirator的名词复数 ) | |
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16
spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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17
specially
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| adv.特定地；特殊地；明确地 | |
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18
acceded
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| v.（正式）加入( accede的过去式和过去分词 )；答应；（通过财产的添附而）增加；开始任职 | |
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19
tamper
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| v.干预，玩弄，贿赂，窜改，削弱，损害 | |
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20
miserable
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| adj.悲惨的，痛苦的；可怜的，糟糕的 | |
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21
brat
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| n.孩子；顽童 | |
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22
irritably
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| ad.易生气地 | |
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23
whining
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| n. 抱怨，牢骚 v. 哭诉，发牢骚 | |
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24
brute
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| n.野兽，兽性 | |
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25
brutal
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| adj.残忍的，野蛮的，不讲理的 | |
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26
destitute
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| adj.缺乏的；穷困的 | |
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27
incensed
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| 盛怒的 | |
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28
avenge
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| v.为...复仇，为...报仇 | |
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29
chilly
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| adj.凉快的，寒冷的 | |
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30
ascertain
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| vt.发现，确定，查明，弄清 | |
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31
lodging
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| n.寄宿，住所；(大学生的)校外宿舍 | |
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32
humble
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| adj.谦卑的，恭顺的；地位低下的；v.降低，贬低 | |
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33
tavern
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| n.小旅馆，客栈；小酒店 | |
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